Engine starter



Dec. 10, 1929. LANSING 1,739,470

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Sept. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 10, 1929. R. P. LANSING 1,739,470

ENGINE STARTER Original t. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I l .jijj.

[ my f I will W M 5% W M, Jaw/1W Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND P. LANSING, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ENGINE STARTER Application filed September 28, 1925, Serial No. 59,114. Renewed April 28, 1929.

My invention relates to engine starting apparatus for the starting of engines such as internal combustion engines, and more particularly but not necessarily airplane engines, and the object thereof is to provide a simple, eflicient and reliable apparatus for either manual or power operation or both and characterized by the provision of inertia means which are actuated by such power means or manual means or both for the accumulation and storing of energy which is thereupon utilized by the application thereof to the en gine for cranking the same, and further characterized by the provision of novel and efiicient mechanism for automatically disconnecting the power means, such as an electric motor from the remainder of the apparatus and particularly from the inertia means when the manual means are operated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec tion of the apparatus embodying my invention which section is taken on an irregular line in order to show the manual means in horizontal section; Fig. 2 a partial sectional elevation illustrating a modified form of construction of the automatic disconnecting means forming the subject matter of this application; Figs. 3 and 4 sections taken on the same section line (3-0 of Fig. 2 but looking in opposite directions.

My apparatus comprises a transmission or drive having an element adapted to engage a member of the engine to be started and power means or a prime mover such as an electric motor and manuallyoperated means. The power means and the manual means may be combined in the same apparatus and may be used separately or conjointly if desired and moreover either one or the other of these two power means may be dispensed with in respect to a, complete apparatus, whereupon such apparatus would be operated either wholly by power means, or wholly by manual means.

The drive or transmission includes the drive proper and reduction gearing. First describing the drive proper the same is located within the main casing 1 which is suitably supported as by being detachably connected with the crank case 2 of the engine, a small portion of which is illustrated. Within a bushing 3 in the casing there rotates a driving barrel 4 and a shell 5 concentrically arranged therewithin and providing a considerable annular space between them to receive a yieldable driving connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch 6'. This clutch is composed of tWo sets of clutch plates or disks which are splined respectively to the interior of the barrel and the exterior of the shell. The proper pressure for the disks is provided by a series of springs 7 located in such annular space and such pressure is regulated by the adjustable nut 8 screwing onto the outer end of the shell. The thrust of these springs tends to force the shell outwardly whereby the ring 9 clamps the disks together by forcing them against the ring 10 which bears against the annular internal flange 11 within the shell. v

The shell 5 is provided with internal long lead threads 12 on which is threaded a screw shaft 13 which constitutes the main or body portion of the driving member whose other principal portion is a clutch member 14 which is adapted to engage a member of the engine to be started such as the corresponding clutch element 15 forming a part of or secured to a rotatable part of the engine such as the crank shaft 16 thereof. The clutch element 14 is in the form of a disk having clutch jaws 17 adapted to engage the complementary clutch jaws 18 on the engine member and provided with a hub or sleeve portion 19 which has a bearing fit within the shell 5 and which has internal longitudinal splines and grooves 20 cooperating with corresponding splines and grooves 21 on the outer end portion of the exterior of the screw shaft 13, whereby the clutch element 14 and the screw shaft 13 have a relative longitudinal movement of limited degree independent of each other. The clutch element 14 is held in its outward position with a yielding pressure in suitable manner as by means of a coiled spring 22 which bears at its outer end against the bottom of thesleeve 19 and at its inner end against the bottom of a socket formed in the outer end of the screw shaft. The outward movement of the clutch element 14 is limited by the head of a rod 23 which passes centrally through the driving member parts and centrally through the main supporting shaft 24 of the reduction gearing, such rod being a manually operated rod terminating in a handle 25 at a point exterior of the apparatus and in the present instance being located adjacent the exterior of the casing of the manually operated means. In the present instance, for assembly purposes, this red is made in two sections screwing together intermediate the length of the rod and provided at the point of juncture with a flange 26 bearingagainst the inner end of the screw shaft in order to limit the movement of the rod to the left with respect to the screw shaft, Fig. 1. The inner end of the screw shaft is provided with two nuts 27 the one nearest the end of the screw shaft being a lock nut and the other providing an abutment for the outward movement of the screw shaft against the internal shoulder 28 within the shell 5;

Next referring to the reduction gearing the same is contained within the main casing 1 and the cover plate 1 by which such gearing is supported and in which it has its bearings. A main stationary internal gear 29 is secured by screws 30 to the casing 1 and with the same meshes a series of three planetary gears 31 which are journaled between two parallel plates 32 and 33. These plates are spaced apart by suitable lugs 34 on adjacent faces of these two plates and the same are held together by screws 35. The inner plate 33 is connected with the driving barrel 4 in suitable manner and in the present instance the same is splined to the inner end thereof through the splines 36 and grooves 37 cooperating with corresponding splines and grooves on the outer face of the plate 33. This plate 33 has a hub provided with longitudinal grooves adapted to receive the oppositely extending projections or pins 38 at the left hand end of the shaft 24 (Fig. 1) whereby such shaft and plate are detachably connected and the shaft is adapted to drive the plate and its attached gearing.

The pinions 31 mesh with a central pinion 39 which as shown and by preference is formed as a part of the hub 40 of a gear 41 mounted to rotate freely upon the shaft 24 through the bushing 42. This gear 41 meshes with a pinion 43 which asshown and by preference is formed upon the hub 44 of a beveled gear 45 which is mounted to rotate freely upon the shaft 46 through the medium of a bushing 47.

The right hand end of the shaft 24 (Fig.

. 1) is journaled in bearings 48 in the casing plate 1*! and extends therethrough and to such projecting end a beveled pinion 49 is secured.

' This pinion forms a part of the manual means and the same extends into a small casing 50 secured to the casing plate 1. In addition to this pinion 49 the manual means consists of'a cranking shaft 52 extending exterior of the casing 50 and is thereat provided with suitable means as the pins 53 for engagement with an ordinary hand crank. This cranking shaft 52 is journaled in ball bearings 54 within the casing 50 and the same is held in proper position longitudinally by the nut 55 and collar 56. The shaft 52 is provided at its inner end with a beveled pinion 57 meshin with the corresponding pinion 49.

escribing the inertia means, the same comprises a flywheel and operating connections with the beveled gear 45 and with the prime mover which is here an electric motor, such inertia means being contained within and supported by a casing 58 which is secured to the main casing 1 in suitable manner. The flywheel comprises a rim 60 having the predetermined or desired mass or weight, a web 61 and a hub 62. This hub is drivingly secured as by splining to a vertical shaft 63 which is journaled in the bearings 64 in the casing 58, and which has a beveled pinion 63 at its lower end. The flywheel is held in upon the screw threads 68 formed upon or i applied to the extended armature shaft 69 of the electric motor 70. The outer end of the armature shaft beyond such screw threaded portion extends downwardly into a socket 72 acting as a bearing for such lower end of the armature shaft.

Describing a cycle of operation of the apparatus and starting first with the utilization of the power means for electric motor as the source of energy and with the parts in their normal position shown in Fig. 1 in which the clutch elements 14 and 15 are disengaged, when the motor is energized and the armature shaft is thereby rapidly rotated, the cup 66 will be automatically moved downwardl into clamping and driving engagement wit the web 61 of the flywheel whereby such flywheel will partake of the rotation of the electric motor. This flywheel being drlvingly connected with the shaft 63, the latter together with the gearing and transmission is thereby advanced and brought into engagement with the other clutch element 15 and the engine is thereby cranked in view of the fact that the clutch element 14 is being rotated through the drive or transmission by means of the flywheel, and such rotation will continue so long as there is sufficient energy left in the flywheel for that purpose. Describ ing transmission of torque from the shaft 63 through the reduction gearing and the drive proper, the rotation of the shaft 63 will rotate the gears 45 and 41 whereupon the central pinion 39 will be rotated and consequently the planetary pinions 31. As a result these latter pinions by reason of their meshing with the internal stationary gear 29 will cause the entire frame or cage by which they are supported consisting of the plates 32 and 33 to be rotated. Inasmuch as the plate 33 is drivingly connected to the driving barrel 4 the latter will be rotated and consequently the shell or nut 5 will be rotated through the medium of the friction clutch 6. Although the screw shaft 13 is screw threaded to the now revolving shell or nut 5 it will not advance longitudinally but will rotate with such shell and consequently the clutch element 14 will likewise be rotated. However, at this time such clutch element is in normal position that is out of en agement with the engine clutch element 15, but when the rod 23 is moved to the left (Fig. 1) as hereinbefore explained the screw shaft will be moved longitudi- .nally thereupon said clutch elements will be brought into engagement and the torque or accumulated energy of the inertia means or flywheel will be transmitted to the engine to crank the same.

When the engine starts on its own power the excess speed of rotation of the engine and its clutch element 15 will cause the screw shaft and its clutch element 14 to be retracted by the screw action between the screw shaft and its sleeve or nut 5 and thereby to become disengaged from the engine in automatic manner.

Next describing the mode of operation when the manual means is the source of energy, a hand crank is applied to the cranking shaft 52 and rotated by the operator until the flywheel reaches the desired or predetermined R. P. M. In this operation, the torque is transmitted from the cranking shaft 52, through the pinions 57 and 49 to the shaft 24 and thence through the cage or frame of the planetary pinions 31 to the gears 41 and 45 and thence to the shaft 63 and finally to the flywheel 60. When the manual means is the source of energy, there will be no clamping action between the electric motor and the flywheel and by reason of the rotation of the flywheel by the manual means, the clamping cup 66 will be released by screw action from any clamping engagement with the web of the flywheel. Consequently, the motor is disconnected fromthe flywheel and will thereupon remain idle. This is of advantage inasmuch as the considerable load occasioned by the pressure of the brushes 74, as well as an friction in the motor bearings is removed from the cranking operation. This load is considerable at the cranking shaft owing to the fact that it is multiplied many times through the gearing described. The flywheel having now been rotated to the proper speed the rod 23 is operated and the engine cranked in the same manner as above explained.

The construction shown in Fig. 1 embodies my invention in its simplest form, but I prefer the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 because of certain advantageous features including the fact that such construction relieves the armature shaft bearings of end thrust and also provides for positive connection between the motor and the shaft to which the inertia device or flywheel is connected as distinguished from the friction action between such motor and the flywheel.

In this modified construction, the screw threads on the armature shaft are located between two shoulders 76 and 77, in connection with the latter of which a lock ring 78 is used. A rotatable nut 7 9 is threaded upon said screw threads and provided with a sleeve portion 80 on which is mounted for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof a clutch clement comprising a sleeve 81 having clutch jaws 82. These jaws are adapted to cooperate with complementary jaws 83 on a clutch member 84 which is operatively connected with the shaft 63 in suitable manner as by being splined thereto. This clutch member 84 is in contact with the web 61 of the flywheel and is held in place thereagainst by the nut 65. This clutch member drives the shaft 63, and consequently the flywheel being also splined to such shaft is driven. The clutch member 81 is held towards the other clutch member yieldingly as by means of the coiled spring 85 interposed between it and abutment 86 carried by the nut 79. The screw threads on the motor shaft have a long lead and consequently the pressure of a second spring 87 is enabled to move the nut in longitudinal direction and hold the same positioned against the shoulder or collar 76. The drawing shows the clutch jaws in complete engagement, such as when the motor is operated. In normal position, however, the nut is in its upward position and bearing against the collar 76 and when the armatureshaft is rotated such nut will be caused to advance longitudinally to the position illustrated-in the drawing whereupon the clutch jaws will be brought into engagement. Should the clutch jaws abut, the nut would continue to travel downwardly and against the tension of the spring 85 until such nut contacted the lock ring 78 after which positive rotation of the clutch member 81 would occur followed by engagement of the clutch jaws through the action of the spring 85 at the moment when register between the jaws occurred. The torque of the motor will now be transmitted through the armature shaft, nut and clutch jaws to the shaft 63 which will thereby be rotated and consequently, the flywheel will be rotated because of its operative connection with such shaft 63.

\Vith the parts'in the position shown in Fig. 2 and with the motor de-energized and assuming that the manual means is operated by the rotation of the cranking shaft, the shaft 63 will be rotated through its operative connection with the cranking shaft and the shaft 63 being now the driver and the nut being thereby driven, the screw action will screw the nut upwardly and demesh the jaws, and the spring 87 is sufliciently strong to insure this upward travel of the nut until it abuts the shoulder-7 6. The angle of the threads may be made sufiiciently steep, approximately 45 so that after the electric motor has been operated, the longitudinal pressure of the spring alone on the nut will be sufiicient to cause the nut to move upwardly against such shoulder 76.

This modified construction insures perfect meshing of the clutch jaws at all 'times without exerting longitudinal pressure on the armature bearings'greater than the pressure of the spring 85, the endwise travel of the clutch member 81 being greater than the amount of longitudinal mesh of the jaws. Moreover, this construction relieves the motor bearings of excessive end thrust of thread re-action through the screw and nut device. Furthermore, the clutch jaws give positive action which is preferable to friction action upon the web of the flywheel inasmuch as if this face should become polished there is a chance that slippage might occur, and if surfaces of higher frictional co-eflicient are provided, considerable effort may be required to release the clutch when the operator starts to turn the apparatus by hand.

I claim:

1. An engine starter including .a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor and means for automatically connecting the motor with said device comprising a rotatable member carried by the motor shaft and adapted to be moved into the driving relation with said device by relative movement between such motor shaft and rotatable member.

2. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started,'aninertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor and means for automatically connecting the motor with said device and disconnecting it therefrom comprising a rotatable member screw threaded upon the motor shaft and adapted to be automatically moved into driving relation with respect to said device and away therefrom by relative movement between such motor shaft and rotatable mem- 3. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device in the form of a fly wheel operatively connected with the driving member, an electric motor having an extended armature shaft, and a rotatable member screw threaded upon the armature shaft and adapted to be moved automatically by screw action into driving relation with said iiy wheel.

4. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device in the form of a fly wheel operatively connected with the driving member and comprising a rim, a hub and intervening web, an electric motor having an extended armature shaft, and a rotatable member screw threaded upon the armature shaft and adapted to be moved automatically by screw action into driving relation with the web of said flywheel.

5. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connected with the driving member, and power means and manual means operatively connected with the inertia device for actuating the same by either of such two means or by both combined, the operating connections between the power means and the inertia device including a screw action controlled device for automatically connecting such power means with the inertia device when the power means is operated and for automatically disconnecting the same when the manual means alone is operated.

6. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor and means for automatically connecting the motor with said device and disconnecting it therefrom comprising a rotatable nut mechanism threaded upon the motor shaft and carrying a clutch jaw, a complementary jaw engaged by the other jaw and adapted to operatively engage the inertia device when the two jaws become engaged.

7. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor and means for automatically connecting the motor with said device and disconnecting it therefrom comprising a rotatable nut threaded upon the motor shaft, a clutch jaw mounted on the nut for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, a complementary jaw engaged by the other jaw and adapted to operatively engage the inertia device when the two jaws become engaged.

8. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor and means for automatically connecting the motor with said device and disconnecting it therefrom comprising a rotatable nut threaded upon the motor shaft and having an extension, a sleeve mounted on such extension for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof and having a clutch jaw, and a complementary jaw member engaged by the other jaw and adapted to operatively engage the inertia device when the two jaws become engaged.

9. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor and means for automatically connecting the motor with said device and disconnecting it therefrom comprising a rotatable nut threaded upon the motor shaft and having an extension for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, and having a clutch jaw and a complementary jaw member engaged by the other jaw, a driven shaft on which the inertia device is mounted for rotation, said complementary jaw member being mounted on the driving shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement therewith for establishing driving relation with the driven shaft and the inertia device.

10. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor and means for automatically connecting the motor with said device and disconnecting it therefrom comprising a rotatable nut threaded unon the motor shaft and having an extension, a sleeve mounted on such extension for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof and having a clutch jaw and a complementary jaw member engaged by the other jaw and adapted to operatively engage the inertia device when the two jaws become engaged, said nut and sleeve being yieldingly held extended.

11. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor and means for automatically connecting the motor with said device and disconnecting it therefrom comprising a rotatable nut threaded upon the motor shaft and having an extension, a sleeve mounted on such extension for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof and having a clutch jaw and a complementary jaw member engaged by the other jaw and adapted to operatively engage the inertia device when the two jaws become engaged and a spring interposed between the nut and sleeve for yieldingly holding them extended.

12. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an electric motor, an in ertia device in the form of a flywheel, operating connections between the flywheel and the driving member including a driven shaft on which the flywheel is mounted and a clutch member mounted on the driven shaft for 10- tary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof and adapted to esiablish driving relation with the driven shaf t and the inertia device and a rotatable nut mechanism threaded upon the motor shaft and having a clutch member adapted to cooperate with the other clutch member.

13. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an electric motor all inertia device in the form of a flywheel, operating connections between the flywheel and the driving member including a driven shaft on which the flywheel is mounted and a lutch member mounted on the driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof and adapted to establish driving relation with the driven shaft and the inertia device, a rotatable nut threaded upon the motor shaft, a clutch member adapted to cooperate with the other clutch member and mounted on the nut for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof for establishing driving relation with the flywheel.

14. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an electric motor, an inertia device in the form of a flywheel operating connections between the flywheel and j the driving member including adriven shaft on which the flywheel is mounted and a, clutch member mounted on the. driven shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof and adapted to establish driving relation with the driven shaft and the inertia device and a rotatable nut mechanism threaded upon the motor shaft and having a clutch member adapted to cooperate with the other clutch member said threads having a steep angle, and a spring tending to move the nut to a disengaged position.

15. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member ofthe engine to be started, an electric motor an inertia device in the form of a flywheel, operating connections between the flywheel and the driving member including a driven shaft on which the flywheel is mounted and a clutch member mounted therewith and longitudinal movement thereof and adapted to establish driving relation with the driven shaft and the inertia device and a rotatable nut mechanism threaded upon the motor shaft and having a clutch member adapted to cooperate with the other clutch member said motor shaft having a Shoulder adjacent its screw threads, and a spring tending to move the nut to a position against the shoulder.

16. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device operatively connectedtherewith, an electric motor normally disengaged from the inertia device, and means which normally disengage the motor from the inertia device but which automatically engages it therewith when the motor is energized.

17. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, an inertia device opera tively connected therewith, an electric motor having an extended armature shaft provided with screw threads, a nut threaded thereon and normally disconnected from but adapted to be operatively connected to the inertia device for rotating it, said threads having a long lead, and a spring acting on the nut to return it to the normally disconnecting position after an operation of the motor.

18. An engine starteruincluding a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started but normally disengaged therefrom, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor having a rotatable shaft adapted to be drivingly connected with the inertia device but normally disconnected therefrom, and means for automatically connecting the motor to said device comprising a rotatable member carried by the motor shaft and adapted to be moved into driving relation with said device by relative movement be- Igween such motor shaft and rotatable mem- 19. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started but normally disengaged therefrom, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor having a rotatable shaft adapted to be drivingly connected with the inertia device but normally disconnected therefrom, and means for automatically connecting the motor to said device comprising a rotatable member carried by the motor shaft and adapted to be moved into driving relation with said device by relative movement between such motor shaft and rotatable member, and means for engaging the driving member with the engine member.

20. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started but normally disengaged therefrom, an inertia device operatively connected therewith, an electric motor having a rotatable shaft adapted to be drivingly connected with the inertia device but normally disconnected therefrom, and means for automatically connecting the motor to said device comprising a rotatable member carried by the motor shaft and adapted to be moved into driving relation with said device by relative movement between such motor shaft and rotatable member, and means for engaging the driving member with the engine member, and manually operated means for engaging the driving member with the engine member at the will of the operator.

21. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, axially fixed reduction means operatively connected with the drive, a motor, and

an operating connection between the motor and the member of the reduction means and normally disconnected therefrom.

22; An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, axially fixed reduction means operatively connected with the drive, a motor, and an operating connection between the motor and a' member of the reduction means, said connections being normally disengaged therefrom but adapted to be automatically engiiged therewith when the motor is operatec.

23. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, means for controlling the cranking engagement and disengagement of said driv- 7 RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

